The Orlando Magic honored 2009-10 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Dwight Howard before tipoff of Game 2 of their playoff series against the Charlotte Bobcats. Howard lifted the bronze trophy skyward as the Amway Arena crowd cheered.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy had said for weeks that Howard should win the honor in a landslide. So, it should come as no surprise that Van Gundy took issue that two of the award's 122 voters left Howard off their ballots.

"Those two people haven't watched the NBA this year," Van Gundy said after he was asked about the voting irregularity. "They haven't. Seriously, I don't want to get into too much name-calling. You have to be an absolute idiot. You either have not watched an NBA game and should not have a ballot or you know absolutely nothing about basketball. Nothing."

Where's Bass?

Two games have now passed in the series, and PF Brandon Bass still hasn't taken the floor for Orlando. Ryan Anderson has been the only power forward to come off the bench, and Anderson scored six points and added three rebounds in Wednesday's 92-77 Magic victory.

Van Gundy said Charlotte's ability to protect the paint has dictated his decision to play Anderson, who excels at spreading the floor.

"The thinking is basically to space the floor as best you can, and I have a guy that when they come to the paint you can kick the ball out to and pull them out," Van Gundy said.

Still, Van Gundy added that Bass "could very well play in this series."

New job?

News outlets have speculated that former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy will be a candidate for some vacant NBA jobs in the weeks ahead.

But Stan Van Gundy said he "would be surprised" if his younger brother uproots his family from the Houston area and takes a head-coaching job.

"I think he's pretty happy and I think his family is pretty happy," the Magic coach said. "I would be surprised. You never say never, but I'd be surprised if he were back. He hasn't shown any great interest in being back."

In a March interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Jeff Van Gundy said he likes his current gig as an ESPN color commentator. But he also said, "I would like to coach again someday, certainly."

Layups

● Bobcats Majority Owner Michael Jordan and his son, UCF basketball player Marcus Jordan, watched Wednesday's game together from seats along the baseline.

● The NBA has announced that Monday's Game 4 in Charlotte will tip-off at 8 p.m. The league also has said that a Game 5 in Orlando on April 28 would start at 8 p.m.

● Orlando assistant coach Brendan Malone celebrated a birthday Wednesday. To mark the occasion, a team official brought a cake with blue icing to the coaches' offices at RDV Sportsplex.

● The Magic have their first 2-0 series lead since the first round of the 2008 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors. Orlando won that series four games to one.

● Magic SG J.J. Redick saw an opportunity for some humor with Howard repeating as the NBA's top defensive player. "I think we should get some credit for him winning Defensive Player of the Year," Redick joked. "For me, I've just funneled my man to him all year."

Read Josh Robbins' blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Magic e-mail newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/newsletters.